Dermal papilla cells (DPC) play an essential role in embryonic formation of hair follicles, regulation of hair growth cycle and maintenance of hair growth. It has been proved that cultured DPC have the ability to induce hair follicle regeneration in vivo and in vitro. At the same time, DPC have obvious properties of adult stem cells. Biological characteristics and functions of DPC are a focus in hair follicle cell biology research, and to study into them will provide theoretical basis for the diagnosis and treatment of hair loss, construction of tissue engineering skin with hair follicles and stem cell-based tissue engineering research.